Letter from America
Issue section:
Issue:
A tide of racism and violence is sweeping the US, but there is also resistance, reports Clare Lemlich.
On 3 August 21 year old Patrick Crusius travelled to the border town of El Paso, Texas, walked into a local shopping centre, and murdered 22 people. Moments before opening fire he shared a manifesto online stating, “This attack is a response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas.” He drew inspiration from the Christchurch, New Zealand, mosque shooting earlier this year.
Mass shootings are almost a routine occurrence now in the United States. So far this year there have been 261, roughly one per day, according to the Gun Violence Archive.